Economy
The Normandy economy can count on a young and qualified active population , which evolves in many sectors of activities: agriculture, tourism, industry and trade. The region can rely on a large network of skills and an international clientele thanks to the strategic location of companies in Caen, Honfleur, Evreux, Rouen or Le Havre .
Facing the English Channel, Normandy covers 29,907km2. It is composed of five departments ( Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne and Seine-Maritime ). With a highly developed infrastructure network, the region benefits from geographical advantages close to the Paris region and offers the most popular seafront in the world with a 600km long coastline.
The regional economic fabric is very international . In fact, exports represent 35% of its GDP. Normandy is also the first port region of France , and puts its maritime sides to profit from the transport of goods . Thanks to internationally renowned tourist sites such as the D-Day landing beaches or the cliffs of Etretat , the Normandy coast is also a real tourist attraction for the region. Finally, with a powerful and specialized industry, Normandy is one of the French leaders in petroleum and chemical products , and stands out as a heavyweight agribusiness.
The Normandy companies are present in very varied sectors, from the automobile to the oil while passing by the aeronautics, the pharmacy, the energy, the cosmetics or the logistics. Monsters of the national economy are present in the region such as Danone, Renault, Renault Trucks, Safran or Sanofi Pasteur.
Its fertile soils and favorable weather conditions make Normandy a land of agricultural tradition . In the East, cereals, potatoes, flax and beets dominate. In the West, it is rather equine and cattle breeding. The specialties from the Norman agriculture are famous in the French soil: tripes in the style of Caen, cider, camembert, livarot, calvados, crème fraîche and Isigny butter.
Finally Normandy is one of the first tourist destinations in the country . The region can rely on 417 classified sites, including 2 in the UNESCO Heritage (Mont-Saint-Michel and Le Havre), the seaside resorts of Trouville-sur-Mer and Deauville, cultural heritage and facilities leisure activities for its tourism sector.
76000 Rouen